Merrymaking, street dancing, devotion to the Señor Santo Niño, culture and faith... that is what the word Dinagyang embodies. The Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo's version of Aklan's Ati-Atihan Festival, is one of the grandest and biggest festivals in the country. Held on the fourth week of January, this festival draws tourists, Filipinos and foreigners alike, to Panay Island's busiest city, Iloilo. Highlighting the festival is the Ati Dance competition wherein several Tribu or tribes participate. Initially, when my Ilongga friend Jeany, was explaining the festival and referred to the participants of the Ati Dance as tribes, I thought that they were literally from indigenous "tribes". Tribes do still exist in my country so I was under the impression that what my friend was saying was the real deal. Much to my surprise the tribus are high school
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